WILLEMSTAD – King Willem-Alexander received a symbolic blue scarf from Curaçao’s national football team, the Blue Wave, during his recent working visit to the island, in a gesture highlighting unity within the Kingdom.
The scarf was presented with a request for the King to wear it alongside the traditional orange scarf during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, allowing him to support both the Netherlands and Curaçao on the global stage.
The moment came at the conclusion of an evening in Willemstad where the King engaged in discussions with residents about geopolitical tensions in the region. The meeting took place in an informal setting at Vittle Art, where participants from various sectors of society shared perspectives on Curaçao’s position between Venezuela and the United States.
The King was received at the venue by Kris Kierindongo, founder of Vittle Art, who presented the initiative as a space where art, history, and community intersect. What began as a personal project—an atelier on a former basketball court owned by his father—has evolved into a cultural hub with growing international recognition.
During the visit, King Willem-Alexander, accompanied by Governor Lucille George-Wout and Dutch State Secretary Eric van der Burg, held discussions with residents on issues including security, migration, and broader regional developments. These conversations formed the central focus of his brief stay in Curaçao, following an earlier program in Aruba.
The visit concluded around 8:00 p.m., when the King departed for the Netherlands. The presentation of the Blue Wave scarf provided a lighter, symbolic ending to an evening otherwise centered on serious regional concerns.
The gesture also reflects Curaçao’s growing presence on the international sports stage, particularly following the island’s historic qualification for the upcoming World Cup, further strengthening national pride and identity.